1. Basic Information

● Chinese Name: 西双版纳傣族自治州

● Area: 19582.45 square kilometers

● Population: 1,172,000

● Zip code: 666100

● Dialing code: (+86) 0691

2. Location

Xishuangbanna is a Tai Lü autonomous prefecture in the extreme south of Yunnan, China. It shares a boundary of 966 kilometers (619 miles) with Burma and Laos in the east, south and west, being a vital pass from China to indo-China Peninsular by land. The prefectural seat is Jinghong. The region sits at a lower altitude than most of Yunnan, and borders closely on tropical climate.

3. Administrative Division

Xishuangbanna governs one county-level city and two counties: Jinghong City, Menghai County, Mengla County. The prefectural seat stands at Jinghong City. 

4. Ethnic People

According to the investigation, there are mainly 12 ethnic minorities living in Xishuangbanna Prefecture, including Dai, Hani, Yi, Lahu, Blang, Jinuo, Yao, Miao, Hui, Wa, Zhuang and Jingpo, which accounts for 70% of the whole population. Traveling to Xishuangbanna is very good way to understand the minorities.

5.Climate and Weather

There are, surprisingly, only two seasons here, the wet season from May to October and the dry season from November to next April. With all-the-year-round warmth, abundant sunlight, a large quantity of heat and plentiful rain, Xishuangbanna is characterized by the fact that there is a long summer but without winter.

The average temperature of the whole year ranges from 18℃ to 22℃. From April to the last ten-day of October, temperature always keeps above 22℃，while the temperature slightly fluctuates between 12℃ and 13℃ from December to March of next year.

6. Best Time to Visit

The optimum time for a trip to Xishuangbanna is from October to June of next year. It is advised to avoid the two golden weeks, namely May Day (1st May to 7th May) and National Day (1st October to 7th October), when most people in China enjoy a long holiday in which they can move around for traveling.

7. Features

▪ Tropical Rain Forest: Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden is the largest botanical garden in China, enjoying the fame of ‘Heart of Green Gem’.

▪ Tea Culture: Xishuangbanna is the home of China’s famous Puer tea. The oldest tea tree in Menghai is 700 years old. The six most major Chinese Puer tea fields are all located in Xishuangbanna. 

▪ Hinayana Buddhist Culture: Bright and magnificent Hinayana Buddhist temples are common to be seem in Xishuangbanna, such as Mengle Buddhist Pagodas and Jingzhen Octagonal Pagoda.

▪ Minority Culture: Over 10 ethnic groups are living in Xishuangbanna. Traveling to Xishuangbanna is very good way to understand the minorities’ in Southwest China such as Dai minority dance, water-splashing festival, etc. 

8. Things to Do

Xishuangbanna is rich in nature, historical and cultural resources, renowned for the multifarious folklore, rain forests, rare plants and wildlife, etc. Xishuangbanna Attractions mainly include Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden, Manfeilong Pagodas (Tanuozhuanglong), Jingzhen Pavilion, Wild Elephant Gully and Dai people's village at Ganlanba. If you are intent to travel to Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Exploration can tailor-make you kind of tour to this province based on your preferences.

9. How to Get to Xishuangbanna

▪ Jinghong Airport (Xishuangbanna Airport) is located in the Gajiu Town in southern Jinghong City, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from downtown Jinghong. At present, it has direct flights to Kunming, Lijiang and Dali. There are two flights a week to Chiang Mai, Thailand. From Jinghong bus station in No.23, Jinghong Bei Lu and Xishuangbanna passenger transport service station in No.5, Minzu Lu, buses to the counties and towns of Xishuangbanna run frequently, carrying visitors to scenic spots desired.

▪ There are a total of three public bus lines in Jinghong city proper. All the scenic spots and passenger transport stations inside Jinghong City can be reached by bus. Recently, renting a bicycle while visiting a city has gained popularity. As Jinghong city is not very big, seeing the city by bicycle would be pleasant and convenient.

10. History

According to a Dai legend, Xishuangbanna was discovered several thousand years ago by hunters chasing a golden deer. In Chinese historical records, the Dai people are mentioned as long ago as the Western Han Dynasty (second century BC). 

Xishuangbanna was under the administrative rule of Nanzhao until its absorption into the Chinese empire in the 13th century. During the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), Xishuangbanna came under the nominal control of the central government. The Cheli Military and Civil Administration was formed in Jinhong at that time, and since then there has always been a representative of the ruling Chinese government there.